This episode explores the long-term relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and neurological health in adults during late midlife.

Pachter D, Klein H, Kamer O, et al. Sustained visceral fat loss is associated with attenuated brain atrophy and improved cognitive function in late midlife. Nat Commun. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41467-026-71141-4

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This episode does a deep dive into how healthcare professionals can effectively encourage long-term lifestyle changes by teaching patients to form healthy habits. Rather than relying on fleeting willpower or complex instructions, the authors suggest a small changes approach where simple actions are repeated consistently in the same contextual environment.

Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(605):664-666. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X659466

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This episode dissects a research article investigateing how momentary fluctuations in motivation influence human decision-making during daily life. Using a microlongitudinal study with smartphone-based assessments, researchers tracked participants over two weeks to observe how their willingness to exert effort changed alongside their internal states.

Hewitt SRC, Norbury A, Huys QJM, Hauser TU. Day-to-day fluctuations in motivation drive effort-based decision-making. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Published March 17, 2025. doi:10.1073/pnas.2417964122

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